Hibiscus plant named ‘HJ-117’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Hibiscus  plant named ‘HJ-117’, characterized by its upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit; freely branching habit when pinched; relatively large leaves; large yellow-colored flowers with white-colored centers; and long flower longevity.

Botanical designation: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis.

Cultivar denomination: ‘HJ-117’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus, botanically known as Hibiscus rosa-sinensis, and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘HJ-117’.

The new Hibiscus is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada. The objective of the breeding program is to create new Hibiscus cultivars that flower early and have long flower longevity.

The new Hibiscus originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in November, 2002, of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Byron Metts, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary Hibiscus rosa-sinensis selection, designated as code number HJ-136, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The cultivar HJ-117 was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in October, 2003.

Asexual reproduction of the new Hibiscus by vegetative terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada since January, 2004, has shown that the unique features of this new Hibiscus are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The cultivar HJ-117 has not been observed under all possible environmental conditions. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environment and cultural practices such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘HJ-117’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘HJ-117’ as a new and distinct cultivar of Hibiscus:

-   -   1. Upright and somewhat outwardly spreading plant habit.     -   2. Freely branching habit when pinched.     -   3. Relatively large leaves.     -   4. Large yellow-colored flowers with white-colored centers.     -   5. Long flower longevity.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the female parent, the cultivar Byron Metts. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the cultivar Byron Metts in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller and lighter         green-colored leaves than plants of the cultivar Byron Metts.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller flowers than plants         of the cultivar Byron Metts.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar Byron Metts         differ in flower coloration as plants of the cultivar Byron         Metts have solid white-colored flowers.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the male parent, the proprietary Hibiscus selection identified as code number HJ-136. Plants of the new Hibiscus differ from plants of the male parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus have smaller leaves than plants of         the male parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the male parent selection         differ in flower coloration as plants of the male parent         selection have white and purple-colored flowers.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus have longer lasting flowers than         plants of the male parent selection.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus root more easily than plants of         the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar Coconut Cream, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus had darker green-colored leaves         than plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus were more freely branching than         plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus had longer lasting flowers than         plants of the cultivar Coconut Cream.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus rooted more easily than plants of         the cultivar Coconut Cream.

Plants of the new Hibiscus can be compared to plants of the Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar HJ-116, disclosed in U.S. Plant Pat. No. 18,586. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada, plants of the new Hibiscus differed from plants of the cultivar HJ-116 in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Hibiscus had longer lateral branches and         internodes than plants of the cultivar HJ-116.     -   2. Plants of the new Hibiscus had smaller flowers than plants of         the cultivar HJ-116.     -   3. Plants of the new Hibiscus and the cultivar HJ-116 differed         in flower color.     -   4. Plants of the new Hibiscus had longer peduncles than plants         of the cultivar HJ-116.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Hibiscus, showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Hibiscus.

The photograph on the first sheet comprises a side perspective view of typical flowering plants of ‘HJ-117’ grown in a container.

The photograph on the second sheet is a close-up view of a typical flower of ‘HJ-117’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown in Seaforth, Ontario, Canada in containers during the winter and spring in polyethylene-covered greenhouses under conditions which closely approximate commercial production. During the production of the plants, day temperatures ranged from about 20° C. to about 28° C. and night temperatures ranged from about 18° C. to about 20° C. Plants were about five months old when the photograph and the description were taken. In the description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2001 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar HJ-117. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Hibiscus rosa-sinensis cultivar             Byron Metts, not patented.         -   Male or pollen parent.—Proprietary selection of Hibiscus             rosa-sinensis designated as code number HJ-136, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By vegetative terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots.—About 30 days at 28° C.         -   Time to develop roots.—About 45 days at 28° C.         -   Root description.—Thick, fleshly; white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately dense. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant form and growth habit.—Upright and somewhat outwardly             spreading plant habit. Moderately vigorous growth habit.         -   Branching habit.—Freely branching, usually about three             lateral branches develop after pinching (removal of terminal             apex).         -   Plant height.—About 43.2 cm.         -   Plant diameter (area of spread).—About 35 cm to 40 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 21.3 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 4 mm to 5 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 4.4 cm.         -   Texture, immature.—Sparsely pubescent.         -   Texture, mature.—Woody, rough.         -   Color, immature.—144A.         -   Color, mature.—199D. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate, single.         -   Length.—About 10.7 cm.         -   Width.—About 6.6 cm.         -   Shape.—Ovate.         -   Apex.—Narrowly acute.         -   Base.—Crenate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Crenate.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Sparsely pubescent;             rugose.         -   Venation pattern.—Palmate.         -   Color.—Developing foliage, upper surface: 147A. Developing             foliage, lower surface: 147B. Mature foliage, upper surface:             Darker than 139A; venation, similar to lamina. Mature             foliage, lower surface: Close to 137B; venation, similar to             lamina.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 5.1 cm. Diameter: About 3 mm.             Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color,             upper surface: 147A. Color, lower surface: 137B. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower appearance/arrangement.—Rounded flowers arranged             singly at terminal leaf axils. Uniform and freely flowering             habit with usually about three or four flower buds and/or             open flowers per terminal apex. Flowers face upright to             outwardly.         -   Flower longevity.—Flowers are long lasting, lasting for             about three to seven days. Flowers not persistent.         -   Natural flowering season.—Usually spring and summer or             during periods of warm weather.         -   Flower diameter.—About 15.1 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 8.5 cm.         -   Flower bud.—Length: About 6.6 cm. Diameter: About 2 cm.             Shape: Elliptic. Color: 154C.         -   Petals.—Arrangement: Corolla consists of five imbricate             petals. Length: About 9.9 cm. Width: About 7.8 cm. Shape:             Spatulate. Apex: Rounded. Base: Attenuate. Margin: Entire;             weakly undulate. Texture, upper and lower surfaces: Smooth,             glabrous. Color: When opening and fully opened, upper             surface: 10A; towards the base, 155C; occasionally, petal             base blushed with 56C. When opening and fully opened, lower             surface: 10B.         -   Sepals.—Appearance: Five sepals fused into tubular calyx.             Length: About 2.7 cm. Width: About 1 cm. Shape: Rhombic.             Apex: Cuspidate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             144B.         -   Bracts.—Appearance: About seven fused at base. Length: About             1.7 cm. Width: About 3 mm to 4 mm. Shape: Linear. Apex:             Acuminate. Margin: Entire. Texture, upper and lower             surfaces: Smooth, glabrous. Color, upper and lower surfaces:             Close to 147A.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 12 cm. Diameter: About 2 mm to             3 mm. Strength: Strong, flexible. Texture: Smooth, glabrous.             Color: 144A.         -   Reproductive organs.—Androecium: Stamen number: Numerous,             about 65. Filament length: About 2 mm. Filament color: Close             to 155A. Anther shape: Globular. Anther length: About 1 mm.             Anther color: Close to 4D. Amount of pollen: Abundant.             Pollen color: Close to 17A. Gynoecium: Pistil length: About             6.5 cm. Style length: About 6 cm. Style texture: Smooth,             waxy. Style color: 4D. Stigma appearance: Five, spherical.             Stigma diameter: About 2 mm. Stigma color: 13A. Ovary color:             Close to 154D.         -   Seed/fruit.—Seed and fruit production has not been observed. -   Temperature tolerance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have been observed     to tolerate temperatures from about 10° C. to about 35° C. -   Pathogen/pest resistance: Plants of the new Hibiscus have not been     shown to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to Hibiscus. 

1. A new and distinct Hibiscus plant named ‘HJ-117’ as illustrated and described. 